Garlic oil may benefit the heart health of diabetics

Cardiomyopathy, a type of heart disease, is one of the leading causes of death among individuals with type 1 diabetes. However, a recent study has shown that garlic oil may provide diabetics with significant protection against the deadly condition.

The findings could help millions of diabetics improve their heart health. Wei Wen Kuo, a researcher from the American Chemical Society, who led the investigation, said that diabetics are at least twice as likely to die from heart disease as the general population, and that the condition accounts for 80 percent of all diabetes-related deaths.

In order to help solve this problem, Kuo and her team tested the effects of various treatments on diabetic lab mice. After testing garlic oil against corn oil, they found that the former provided protection against cardiomyopathy.

Researchers said in their report, which was published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, that the substance appears to have strong antioxidant properties, which may explain the benefit. Previous findings have suggested that antioxidants may reduce inflammation in the circulatory system.